Kayakers and Porterdale residents alike should soon be able to call the river running through their town an official water trail.

Once paperwork is completed, Yellow River will become an established water trail as designated by the Georgia River Network.

Yellow River Water Trail (YRWT) was in the developing stage for two years, according to Gwyneth Moody, community programs coordinator for Georgia River Network. She said there are 13 established Georgia water trails and eight that are still developing.

With the kayak launch open and in use, YRWT met all the criteria to be an established trail and be listed on the Water Trails Clearinghouse, a central location for information about existing water trails in the state. An established trail must also be sponsored and maintained by a local entity, be a source of conservation and have an educational component.
Established water trails are noticed more by residents and tourists, Moody said.

“Porterdale has been an integral part of this by developing the city on the water front,” Moody said.

No adult day care

A proposed adult day care center will no longer be in the works after a conditional use permit was denied by the Porterdale City Council Monday. The property, located at 10 Kenzi Way, sits in a single-family residential district.

The Planning and Zoning Commission also unanimously denied the permit, reasoning “this would not preserve the integrity of the existing residential neighborhood. This is not consistent with our current zoning ordinance and it not an ideal fit for the long-range plans for revitalizing the Village as laid out in our Comprehensive Plan.”

History meets coffee

Tracey Hughes was appointed to the Historic Preservation Commission as its newest member. Hughes, whose husband owns Argyle’s coffee in downtown Porterdale, has a Master’s degree in information science and works with The Georgia Archives.

Oxford

Oxford’s Moore Street is beginning to look like new again.

Construction to resurface Moore Street was completed Wednesday, July 2 as the first phase in a joint agreement between the City of Oxford and Newton County to address the condition of certain roadways in Oxford.

Now that the street is finished, a proposed sidewalk is the next step. The Oxford City Council approved a purchase order of up to $200,000 to install a water line under the ground where the sidewalk would sit. Oxford College requested the order because part of the proposed sidewalk is in the city’s right of way, located by the school’s tennis courts.